Have Mercy On Me, O Lord,

For I Am In Trouble

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body!

For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee from me.

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.

For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me,

they scheme to take away my life.

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies’ sake.

Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; let the wicked be ashamed; let them be silent in the grave.

Let the lying lips be put to silence, which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Psalm 31:9-18

In times of grief or uncertainty, the honesty of the psalms makes them a natural place to turn.

When we are waiting in a surgeon’s office, waiting for the “news” there may be a box of tissues. We wonder, will this time be good or bad news? Even if our spouse is not “okay,” our times still remain in God’s hands.

When we put our problems in God’s hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.

Our Daily Bread – September 20, 2015